The how and why of audiograms

It explains how audiograms works and how they measures your hearing loss against a benchmark rather than your hearing ability. It also gives a brief history of measuring and diagnosing hearing loss. What’s most interesting though is this snippet:

“… a threshold measure of hearing loss is used to estimate how a hearing aid should be set up to work at normal speech and noise levels. It’s not very logical.”

It’s an interesting point, I always understood the audiogram to be the focal point of a hearing aid fitting. I always thought that the result of the audiogram determined my aids settings and I would be more or less ready to wear them after that. I’ve always had the audiologist tweak or change my settings a bit but I just assumed that maybe I was being a bit picky or maybe my hearing loss was a bit unusual or something.

I used to think of a hearing test and resulting audiogram as being a bit like a vision test when I go for new glasses: have the test, get the prescription, pick a make and model and away you go. But Elaine’s article made me realise that really the two are very, very different.

Search Blog

Confused about buying a hearing aid?

Looking for clear, no-nonsense advice on hearing aids, their technology levels, features, pros and cons? We might have the book for you, purchase the Little Book of Hearing Aids on Amazon. The only hearing aid Buying guide you will ever need.

About The Authors

Hearing Aid Know is written by Steve Claridge and Geoffrey Cooling. Steve has been wearing hearing aids
for over thirty years and Geoff is a veteran of the audiology industry. Together they give a holistic
view of the hearing aid industry and the equipment available from both sides of the fence.

Hearing Aid Know

We want to deliver good strong independent advice on hearing aids, hearing aid technology and hearing aid types combined with honest advice on who's good at providing them. We aren't tied, contracted or obligated to any hearing aid company or hearing aid manufacturer.

Steve has been wearing hearing aids for over thirty years and Geoff is a veteran of the hearing aid industry. Together they have a vast knowledge of hearing aids and the people that provide them.

Advertising

Company Address

We use cookies to improve your customer experience on this website by recognizing your browser and capturing certain information. By clicking “Got It!” or further navigating this site, you allow Hearing Aid Know and associated third parties the placement of cookies. Learn More